For Serena Williams, missed chances came in a flurry yesterday at the French Open.

She shanked overheads, hit wild volleys and squandered seven break points. The net result: a stunning third-round 4-6, 4-6 loss to Katarina Srebotnik.

Slovenia' s Katarina Srebotnik reacts after upsetting Serena Williams during their third round match at the French Open in Paris yesterday.

The hasty exit matches Williams' earliest in nine visits to Roland Garros and guarantees a first-time women's champion. Williams, who won the French Open in 2002, was the lone former champion to enter the draw.

"I missed a lot of easy shots and a lot of key points that I felt like could have turned the match around," a subdued Williams said shortly after the loss. "I wasn't able to capitalize."

Williams also lost in the third round in 1999.

The 27-year-old Srebotnik earned the biggest victory of her career. She has only one win over a player ranked higher than the No. 5-ranked Williams, beating No. 4 Amelie Mauresmo at Zurich in 2005.

Three-time defending champion Rafael Nadal played for the fourth consecutive day in the rain-interrupted tournament and beat Jarkko Nieminen 6-1, 6-3, 6-1 in the third round. Nadal, who has been bothered this spring by a blister on his right foot, won easily despite needing treatment of the foot by a trainer after the second set.